Karl-Anthony Towns shines in Knicks’ 128-115 win over Pacers

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Three days after suffering an “unacceptable” home loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics, the Knicks regained confidence on Tuesday night, outlasting the Indiana Pacers, 128-115, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Here are the takeaways…

— The Knicks’ starting lineup wasn’t whole for a fourth straight game, as winger OG Anunoby (knee sprain) was ruled out prior to tip-off. While his absence was predictable — head coach Tom Thibodeau said on Monday that he still wasn’t ready for game action, it appears that Anunoby’s return isn’t far away.

— Jalen Brunson drained the game’s first bucket, but it didn’t create a chain reaction. He wrapped up the first quarter shooting a measly 1-of-7 from the floor, and the Pacers took advantage of the Knicks’ early misses and defensive lethargy. But a shift in momentum arrived late in the first quarter, as New York managed to erase a seven-point deficit and close out on an 8-0 run.

— The Pacers opened the second quarter with six straight points, but the Knicks quickly returned the favor with eight straight of their own — all while Brunson and Josh Hart sat on the bench in early foul trouble. The offensive boost conveniently came from Karl-Anthony Towns, who needed just 13 minutes to produce 19 points. In between the early scoring swings, Thibodeau received his first technical foul of the season.

— With a lack of first-half contributions from Brunson and Hart, Deuce McBride stepped up off the bench by adding 12 points with three-made threes. His efforts also helped the Knicks create their third run of eight straight points in the first half. But it was Towns who took full control, and New York extended its lead to double-digits in the closing minutes of the second. At the half, they led 68-60.

— As if Brunson’s poor first-half shooting wasn’t discouraging enough, he also couldn’t help himself from committing careless fouls. He was charged with two fouls just three minutes into the third quarter, bumping his total to five for the third time this season. Luckily for the Knicks, Hart picked up the slack with Brunson forced to the bench, adding 23 points on 10 made buckets through…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/karl-anthony-towns-shines-knicks-030836625.html

Author : SNY

Publish date : 2025-02-12 03:08:00

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